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Six Sigma Quality is about improving overall quality
through three main activities:
- Process Design;
- Process Management; and
- Process Improvements.
The procedure to achieve Six Sigma Quality comprises five steps:
- Determine the state of the
process / problem
- Measure the operating parameters
/ deviation from designed performance
- Analyse the causes of the low
quality and to develop solutions
- Implement the improvements
/ new procedures or systems
- Control the process through
standardised procedures
The DMAIC cycle can be applied in process design, process management
and process improvements.
What is Six
Sigma Quality and why does it matter?
"Sigma" is a statistical term describing the deviation from a designed
performance level. Six Sigma Quality is where there are at 3.4 quality defects
per million opportunities or 99.99966% quality. While this level may seem high
to many people, the illustrations below show what quality means in everyday life.
99%
Quality
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99.9%
quality
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99.99%
quality
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1.68 hours of no-picture TV per channel/ week
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1 hour of unsafe drinking water every month
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200,000 bank notes printed wrong (UK)
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147 million coins stamped wrong (UK)
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As you can see from the above examples, quality does matter and we
demand a much higher quality in our everyday lives than 99 or even
99.99%? Think of the number of components in a car or a passenger jet
- what level of quality are we expecting every time we drive or fly?
So why should your customers expect any less from your operations?
Number Crunching
As its name implies, Six Sigma Quality does involve some statistical analysis.
The extent of the number crunching depends on the type of process you are
measuring. However, Greenfile Developments does not advocate heavy-duty statistical
analysis as a starting point. To us, the major issue is an understanding
of what is to be achieved and encouraging everyone to take part in adopting
personal responsibilities towards achieving Six Sigma Quality.
Involving People
People deliver quality and our programmes help organisations and their teams
to discover their own contribution towards higher quality. We believe an
understanding of why quality defects occur; how these defects can be eliminated
from the business process; and how everyone can participate in improving
quality are the most important steps in developing Six Sigma Quality.
Is Six Sigma Quality suitable for my
organisation?
Managing quality is critical for the success of any organisation. Six Sigma
Quality provides one of the most comprehensive and effective methods to ensure
overall quality. Greenfile Developments Six Sigma
Quality Management is suitable for any company, large or small
and in any sector of business whether manufacturing, service, government or
not-for-profit.
Contact us to find out how
the Greenfile Developments Six Sigma
Quality Management can
benefit your organisation.
Additional details about this topic can be found in the Periscope
Files article on Six Sigma Quality. |
